Bruno Fernandes discloses Ronaldo’s reaction to being dropped by Portugal

• Bruno Fernandes reveals Cristiano Ronaldo’s reaction to being dropped by Portugal.

After Cristiano Ronaldo was benched for Portugal’s match against Switzerland, Bruno Fernandes stated that any member of the team would have been incensed to be left out of the starting lineup.

Goncalo Ramos, who scored a breathtaking hat-trick as Portugal produced a sensational performance in their 6-1 triumph, was selected ahead of the 37-year-old for Tuesday’s quarterfinal match.

For the first time since Euro 2008, Ronaldo did not get off to a good start for his nation in a major tournament. With 17 minutes remaining, he came off the bench and had a shot disallowed for offside.

Erik ten Hag released the former Real Madrid player under similar circumstances in October after Manchester United terminated the striker’s contract at the beginning of the month.

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RELATED:

• Erik ten Hag speaks out on the Cristiano Ronaldo saga
• How Portugal’s players reacted to Cristiano Ronaldo being benched from Switzerland’s win.
• Fernando Santos reveals why he dropped Cristiano Ronaldo against Switzerland.

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His former United teammate Fernandes insists Ronaldo remains a key part of the squad, admitting the veteran was frustrated to have been left out.

‘Do you think anyone likes to be on the bench?” Fernandes said. ‘I don’t think Cristiano would be happy. If the manager put me on the bench in the next game, I would be angry.’

He added: ‘We won the first two games with Cristiano in the first 11, and it could be that if Cristiano played, he could score three goals and no one would be speaking about Cristiano being on the bench.

‘Cristiano is doing his job, he’s doing his part, he’s happy with the result because the goal for everyone is to go as far as possible.

‘I don’t think people should be talking about Cristiano and why he’s not playing, because when Cristiano plays and the team wins, no one talks about that.

‘When Cristiano plays and the team loses, everyone talks.[He is] the most famous player in the world. No one is more famous than Cristiano in sports, not in football, in sports.’